Athens

Get to know the amazing and diverse capital of Greece, a city where the past lives organically next to the present. A sightseeing tour of Athens begins with the Acropolis, one of the ten most visited attractions in the world. Propylaea, Parthenon, Caryatids, Temple of Nike, Pnik, Areopagus, theater of Dionysus. Next, by bus, you will travel around the entire historical and administrative center, get acquainted with the history of the city and see the most popular places in Athens: the Parliament, the temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathinean stadium made of white marble, the Athens trilogy “University-Library-Academy”. In conclusion, old Athens awaits you – the Plaka area under the Acropolis, where there is a huge number of cozy cafes, a wide variety of shops and traditional Greek taverns for every taste. Those who wish can continue their acquaintance with ancient Greece by visiting the New Acropolis Museum, which is one of the ten best museums in the world. (at extra charge)

You will find a tireless and very interesting walk through the oldest part of Athens – Plaka, an area that in ancient times was the commercial and cultural center of the ancient city. A professional guide will introduce you to the main sights of this Athenian area, take you through the intricate lanes, show you ancient and Orthodox churches with their amazing history, and tell you what is significant about such world-famous archaeological sites as Hadrian’s Library and the Tower of the Winds. In conclusion, you will have a tour of the Ancient Agora, during which you will find out why the agora was already in the 2nd century. BC. was a favorite place of the ancient Athenians, and you will also visit the famous Stoa of Attala – a gallery decorated with three rows of magnificent columns. Optionally, you can visit the Museum of the Ancient Agora with unique exhibits.

Cape Sounion is called the Greek end of the world – because it is located at the southernmost point of mainland Greece and Attica, just an hour’s drive from Athens. This place has been known since Homeric times, where the ruins of the majestic temple of Poseidon have survived to this day. This excursion is usually organized in the afternoon, before sunset, as the sunsets at Cape Sounion are unforgettable. On the way to Sounion, you will get acquainted with the famous thermal lake Vouliagmeni, which Jacques Yves Cousteau himself was exploring for many years. Those who wish can swim for an additional fee.

Excursion to Argolis, one of the historical regions of the Peloponnese, is designed for the whole day. Rich program includes stops at the Corinth Canal and Nafplio, as well as visits to the archaeological sites of Mycenae and Epidaurus. The “Lion Gate”, the domed tomb of Atreus and the “cyclopean” walls built of huge stones are one of the most famous monuments in the Peloponnese and living witnesses of famous ancient Greek myths. It is also home to one of the best preserved theaters of ancient Greece, where to this day theatrical performances take place every summer. The tour ends with a walk through the first capital of Greece – Nafplion, an authentic town with medieval fortresses and picturesque lanes. On the way stop for lunch (extra charge). An amazing journey awaits you to the ancient city of Delphi – a place where you will be fascinated by the surprisingly harmonious combination of antiquity and nature. Among monuments of the archaeological zone the most significant is the temple of Apollo, where the legendary Pythia spoke on behalf of the god Apollo, her prophetic predictions. It was in this temple that the “omphalos” was located – the navel of the Earth, the center of the Earth. This is followed by a visit to the archaeological museum of Delphi, which houses the famous statue of the Charioteer. The tour ends with free time in the picturesque village of Arachova near Parnassus, which is as popular in winter as Mykonos Island in summer. On the way stop for lunch (extra charge).

The ancient Greek city of Corinth was one of the largest centers of ancient Greece. In the archaeological zone of Corinth, the ruins of the temple of Apollo with its columns, the temple of Octavia, the fountain of the Pyrenees, and the baths of Eurycles have come down to our times. It is worth to mention that Apostle Paul lived and preached for some time, and his two letters to the Corinthians were included in the Bible. Further on the program – a visit to the active women’s monastery of the Monk Patapius, where the incorruptible relics of the great saint of the IV century Patapius are kept. The monastery is located at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, from its platform offers a panoramic view of the resort town of Loutraki. The tour ends at Cape Ireion, where the ruins of the sanctuary of the goddess Hera are located. In case of clear weather, you will have a unique opportunity to see the remains of the sunken ancient city underwater. On the way, stop for lunch (for an extra charge) at the Blue Lake.

According to legend, a Greek warrior named Pheidippides in 490 BC. after the battle of Marathon, he ran without stopping from Marathon to Athens to report the victory of the Greeks. And when he reached Athens, he fell and died, having only time to shout: “Rejoice, Athenians, we won!”. Nowadays, in the modern town of Marathon, the annual marathon race starts, one of the iconic sporting events in the world, the distance of which is 42 kilometers 195 meters. After visiting the archaeological zone of Marathon and the museum, you will visit the Attica Zoo. The Zoological Park of Attica covers an area of 200 hectares and contains more than 2,000 animals of 350 different species, and the bird collection is the third largest in the world (1,100 birds from 300 different species). The zoo now houses rare animals from all over the world and Greece, including white rhinos, African elephants and desert animals. The zoo also has a House of Lemurs, a Dolphinarium, demonstrative feedings of animals are organized daily.